Mrs. Karen Elizabeth Bourne Smith

October 28, 1953 - November 14, 2020

Karen Bourne Smith, age 67, of Newington, GA passed from this life on November 14, 2020 at her home, surrounded by loved ones. She was born on October 28, 1953 in Lexington, VA, in the only home Stonewall Jackson ever owned. For nearly fifty years, the house—with many additions—served as the only hospital for Rockbridge County, where Karen lived for the first 16 years of her life. She is pre-deceased by her parents, Robert Nanton and Elizabeth (Jeanne) Tolley Bourne, long-time residents of Sylvania, GA. She is survived by her husband, Patrick “Mike” Smith; daughter Gretchen Massey of Atlanta, GA; son Bryce Massey and daughter-in-law Riki of Evans, GA; step-son Patrick Smith and daughter-in-law Meredith of Augusta, GA; step-son Michael Smith and daughter-in-law Emily of Bonaire, GA; her grandchildren Gehrig, Greer & Garner Massey; Charlie Massey; Caroline Smith; brother Clark (Chris) Bourne of Augusta, GA; and sisters Terry (Bob) Ingram of Cleveland, GA and Carol (Bob) O’Neill of Lincolnton, GA; and countless friends and relatives. Due to her love of her family origin, “KB,” as she was affectionately known by her extended family, was a bridge to her mother’s (Georgia, Virginia) and father’s northern (Pennsylvania) families. She was the eldest of twenty-two Tolley grandchildren. Karen gave her life to Christ at an early age and was forever an advocate of ‘Hesed’, God’s lovingkindness. Her love of God and Christian devotion shaped her life through faithful worship and praying for others. She was a gifted musician and counted it a blessing to share her talent in many types of gatherings. She traveled far and wide to share her love of Christ, while also regularly sharing her talents at her beloved churches, Liberty Presbyterian in Sylvania, GA and Trinity Presbyterian in Statesboro, GA. Karen and Mike have been long-time supporters of Hope Builders Ministries (HBM). HBM focuses on providing Biblically-based Disciple-Maker Training to equip and empower indigenous spiritual leaders (mostly in rural areas) in Africa and two provinces in India, helping them to effectively reach their own people with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In 2014, she and Mike visited the African Congo to participate first-hand in the power of this special ministry. Another highlight of her life was a January 2017 trip she and Mike took to Israel with Christian musician, Michael Card, to walk through the life and steps of Jesus Christ. It was particularly meaningful to her to perform one of her favorite songs, ‘El Shaddai,’ with Mr. Card on this trip. Professionally, Karen was technology manager at BASF Fibers in Sylvania, GA, and served as a network specialist instructor at Ogeechee Technical College and a computer technician at Georgia Southern Univ. With her love of computers, problem-solving, and serving others, she founded Ageless Connections in the late 1990s to help older generations connect electronically to their families and friends. Karen loved nature and the outdoors and was able to evolve this passion into her “second and most loved career” as founder of Southern Native Plantings at Longwood Plantation. In addition to developing a customer base of people whom she considered family and friends, she was very active with many organizations in this industry, to include: Coastal Organic Growers; the Atlanta Local Food Initiative (she particularly loved participating in their annual plant sale); Georgia Organics; and most prominently, the Augusta and Statesboro Locally Grown farmers’ markets. She and Mike have been long-standing providers of native plants and soil amendments to these communities. Walks and golf cart rides with her family, kayaking with her friends, and jam sessions with her cousins at annual family reunions were some of her favorite activities. In the 1990s, after winning a pair of professional rollerblades, Karen developed a love of rollerblading and even rollerbladed the Annual Athens to Atlanta race in 1995 and 1996. She loved being part of the Sylvania Birthday Club and other Screven County organizations supporting the hometown she loved so dearly. Karen was well-loved by all who knew her. Her easy-going personality, sense of humor, compassion for others, beautiful smile, and her unwavering faith will be greatly missed by so many. A service celebrating Karen’s life will be conducted by Reverends Jim Hope and Roland Barnes on Saturday, December 5th, 2020 at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Statesboro, GA at 11:00am. The family will receive guests at her beloved nursery in Newington, GA from 2-4 pm after the service. In lieu of flowers, her family suggests that memorial donations be made to any of her favorite charities: Hope Builders Ministries at P.O. Box 317, Greenwood, VA 22943 Old Savannah City Mission at P. O. Box 16839, Savannah, GA 31416 Trinity Presbyterian Church and Ministries at 571 East Main St. (Hwy 24) Statesboro, GA 30461 The Atlanta Local Food Initiative Orchard Project, at 970 West Jefferson St Atlanta Ga 30318 Friends may sign the online register book at www.joineranderson.com Joiner Anderson Funeral Home Screven Chapel is in charge of arrangements.